I’ve been wanting to build a traditional AV8 roadster for more than 15 years now, hoarding away parts along the way. I finally started this past January... and I’ve also been meaning to start this build thread for the past several months so I’ll start posting what I’ve completed so far. My experience with old cars up to this point had been limited to primarily 50’s stuff so this Model A has been a learning experience (and a welding lesson) from the start. A good friend from Hagen Bros. Hot Rods, the Early Ford Store down the street from me, and this Hamb forum have each become my honey-hole for knowledge and parts, so I am thankful for all the help. Enjoy the photos!
I found this relatively solid ‘30 roadster body and chassis through a local listing. It had been stored in a warehouse just outside Burbank awaiting a restoration so the car came with a few boxes of surplus stock model a parts.
Also picked up a ‘36 rear axle and a ‘32 front and some round spindles, and got started cleaning those up as well.
Nice solid car! Interested to see where this goes. BTW a 4" angle grinder and a cup wire wheel will save you hours and hours of cleaning time.
Built up a rear spring stack w a reversed eye main leaf, and while I might consider utilizing the 36 radius rods in the future with th spring mounted behind the axle, I opted to mount the spring above the axle with weld-on mounts to simplify the build.
I found these radius rods in a parts pile. Not sure what they’re off of but they allowed me to mount the spring above the differential. I cleaned them up, and welded up unwanted holes.
Nie looking welds so far. I think those are 46/7/8 rear shock mounts. I'm just coming to the end of assembly of my 31 after 4 years on it. Still a little left to do on it.
Thanks. There is a lot of help here for these cars so don't be shy or afraid to ask if you need help for anything! Mine would have taken less time but I had to completely rebuild my newly rebuilt flathead because the guy I had paid to do it didn't know jack shit about em and should have admitted it instead of screwing up my engine!
Dave Havlir @house of fab here on the Hamb. I’m very happy with all the parts I’ve purchased from him, F1 type cross-member and headers as well.
Out with the old, in with the new.. I had some 16” rims blasted before painting and mounting some fresh Firestones.
Starting on the front end, I cleaned and assembled a spring pack w a reversed eye main. Trimmed up some bushings. And cut down a second-leaf for clearance.
I found a ‘34 wishbone that I’m hoping will clear the motor without having to split, and got the chassis rolling on new front and rear axles.
Looking real nice. Man you gotta love the condition the "used parts" that are over 80yrs old, are in. Nothing like what we deal with in the salty state of Michigan. Keep up the great work. Look forward to the end of the build. Sent from my SM-N910V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Among the parts I’d been hoarding away for many years was this 8ba flathead that I pulled from my old shoebox. I loved the way it ran so I kept it long after I had sold the car. I replaced the stock sideshift with a ‘39 3 speed. I sourced a F1 style crossmember from @house of fab and began locating mounts onto the frame. The headers were also purchased from Havlir.
After a lot of careful measuring, the mounts and crossmember are finally welded in. Some material was removed from the stock front crossmember for crankpulley clearance. (Please mind my crappy welds)
Here is a better shot of that havlir cross member. I decided to eliminate the original model a cross member entirely. I’ll also have to make a bracket for that wishbone in the future.
I disassembled the motor to swap out for an early style cam and distributor to help with engine compartment clearance. Also, it was a good excuse to freshen up the low mileage motor. I had to swap out the timing gears as well to run the 59a distributor setup.
Block was cleaned, cylinders measured within spec so I honed them for new rings. Schneider Racing in San Diego ground a cam for me. I installed it with new zephyr springs, guides and adjustable johnson style lifters . The forward water passages in the block were blocked off and sealed to accommodate earlier heads and water pumps.
I had some concern over the elimination of the 8ba road-draft tube. Some research led me to adopt a directional venting method that vents the block through a pcv valve. I cut down the tube that extends into the lifter valley and made an adapter for a venting line that will ultimately terminate at the intake. I liked how this design hides the pcv system.
The Jalopy Journal
